Gas Exchange Lab Report

INTRODUCTION
Gas exchange is the movement of respiratory gases across a membrane through diffusion. Diffusion is the process of which the respiratory gases across the gas exchange membrane (oxygen from the environment into the body, carbon dioxide from the body to the environment). Using the concentration gradient along the gas exchange surface.
For gas exchange to occur these three Features are needed; the gas exchange surface needs to be moist so that the oxygen and carbon dioxide can dissolve in water (H2O) in order to diffuse across the membrane.
The gas exchange surface also needs to have a large surface area in order for enough diffusion of gases to take place, to get as much oxygen into the blood and as much carbon dioxide out of the blood as possible.
The gas exchange surface also needs to be thin, if the membrane is not thin enough the oxygen and carbon dioxide will not be able to defuse efficiently. Therefore the membrane needs to be thin so diffusion can take place.
Gas exchange is required for the process of respiration. This process allows the release of energy that is required for cellular processes. Gas exchange provides the oxygen needed in the process of respiration.
The bronchi divide further into finer tubes called bronchioles. Bronchioles end in minute air sacs called alveoli; this is where the diffusion of the oxygen takes place. These many alveoli have a large surface area this increases the efficiently of the diffusion of oxygen, as more particles can diffuse over the gas exchange surface at once. Surrounding the alveoli are capillaries, capillaries are fine blood vessels forming a network around the alveoli. The oxygen breathed into the lungs defuses thought the thin membrane of the alveoli into the capillaries, into the blood stream. The Oxygenated blood is then distributed around the body, and is used in the process of respiration, providing the mammal energy to